The U.S. men’s national team got a massive break when FIFA overturned Folarin Balogun’s red card, clearing him to play in Monday’s Round of 16 matchup against Belgium. But the Royal Belgian Football Association is not letting it slide quietly.
The RBFA released a statement Sunday expressing what it called “astonishment” at FIFA’s decision. Balogun was sent off in the USMNT’s group-stage finale against Portugal, a call that initially looked like it would sideline him for the knockout round. FIFA cited Article 27 of its disciplinary code to reinstate the striker, but Belgium’s federation argues that contradicts Article 66.4 of the same code and Article 10.5 of the World Cup tournament regulations.
“The Royal Belgian Football Association is astonished by FIFA’s decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the USA–Belgium match,” the statement read. “In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options.”
Belgium’s coach had a sharp response
Manager Rudi Garcia didn’t hold back when asked about the timing during Sunday’s press conference. “I thought the World Cup was in July, not April. It’s now April Fools,” Garcia said. “We’re not defending the national team or the federation. We’re defending football.”
The decision gives the USMNT a massive boost ahead of what was already shaping up to be a tense knockout game. Balogun has been the team’s most dangerous attacking threat, and his availability changes how Belgium has to prepare defensively. The U.S. camp has been all good vibes since the ruling came down, but this is clearly a sore spot for the Belgians.
It’s not just sour grapes either. There’s a legitimate procedural question here. FIFA’s disciplinary code has multiple overlapping rules about when suspensions carry over between tournament stages. The RBFA is essentially arguing that FIFA picked the rule that helped the USMNT while ignoring the one that would have kept Balogun on the sideline. Whether that argument has any legal teeth remains to be seen. FIFA rarely reverses itself under public pressure from a federation, and the match kicks off Monday at 5 p.m. Seattle time. That doesn’t leave much room for an appeal to actually change anything.
Still, Belgium’s statement is unusually pointed for inter-federation diplomacy. They’re not just questioning the outcome. They’re questioning the process. And in a tournament where every edge matters, the timing of this ruling — less than 48 hours before kickoff — is definitely raising eyebrows. Garcia’s April Fools joke wasn’t really a joke. He meant it.
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